Oak Creek Elementary

Oak Creek Families,

Our final day of September is here and with the change of the month comes a new character trait to focus on: responsibility. I hope you read below for some ideas about how to encourage and promote responsibility at home!

October also brings with it a few opportunities to bring families into our school and build relationships. Make sure your calendars are marked for these events:

• October 18th: Back to School Night
• October 21st: PTO Sponsored Oak Creek Carnival
• October 27-28th: Parent-Teacher Conferences (watch for info from your child's teacher about how to sign up)

To make sure you see everything, click on this message so that it opens in your web browser. If you have any questions, please see the FAQ section below, or feel free to reach out to myself or Terese (Tess) Kristoffersson at kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.

Thank you,

Barb Keeton

Updated in Every Edition:

• Principal's Message
• Dates to Remember
• PTO Corner

NEW In This Edition:

• Electronic Communication Devices
• Lost and Found
• Purposeful People
• Laker Youth Basketball

Repeated Information:

• Black Student Mentorship Program
• Dance Wizards Info
• Used Tech Drive
• LOJ vs. Harlem Wizards

• Student Emergency Kits
• State Assessment Score Reports
• Mask Policy Information
• iLab Donations
• Friendly Reminder: Change of Dismissal Plans

• New Application for School Volunteers
• Recognitions and Observations in September

LOSD District News:

• "I Love Lake Oswego" Clothing Closet
• SafeOregon
• Subscribe to Lake Oswego Schools App

October 5: LOJ vs. Harlem Wizards

October 8: Tech Drive

October 13: School Picture Day

October 14: No School - Statewide Inservice Day

October 15: Chipotle Restaurant Day (Dine-n-Donate)

October 18: Back to School Night

October 21: No School - Teacher Work Day

October 21: Oak Creek Carnival

October 27-28: Parent-Teacher Conferences

All electronic communication devices (cell phones, watches, etc.) should be left at home. If they need to come to school for some reason, they should be off and away during the school day. Communication between students and their families that needs to happen during the school day should happen through the office.

Dear Oak Creek Families,

This month we are talking about Responsibility.

One way to define Responsibility is “taking action and understanding the impact of our choices.”

Taking action can mean doing the right thing or completing the tasks you have been assigned. Understanding the impact of our choices means that our actions matter. Positive and responsible actions can help people and irresponsible actions can hurt others.

Responsibility is one of the three traits we will focus on throughout the year that encourages students to “Be Strong”. Throughout our school, Lake Grove students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Responsibility. Here are three “PurposeFull Pursuits” for you to complete together. How many can you do this month?

Pursuit #1: As a family, think of ways in which you might make someone’s life a little easier by helping a neighbor or family friend with one of their responsibilities. Could you help someone with their garbage or recycling? Could you carry things in from the grocery store? Could you invite someone over for a meal or a show?

Pursuit #2: Review Responsibility as a family! Responsibility is taking action and understanding how our choices affect others. Choose one household chore (or more!) that requires multiple steps. Then have each member of the family select one step to complete to help get the job done. Maybe it is washing the dishes, doing laundry, cleaning the living room, or unloading the groceries. Whatever it is, see who can be the quickest or most effective at their task.

Pursuit #3: Family meeting story prompts

● A time I (or someone else) showed responsibility was _____.

● An act of responsibility that changed/challenged me was _____.

Thank you for partnership and support of our Social Emotional Learning.

Sincerely,

Roxanne Davidson

Oak Creek School Counselor

Our lost and found area is quickly filling up!

We ask you to please come check if your child has any clothes hung up.

Please label their clothes in the future so that we can easily find the owner.

Thank you!

REGISTER FOR LAKER YOUTH BASKETBALL

Registration is now open for the Laker Youth Basketball 2022-2023 season! In addition to our competitive program (boys, 4th-8th; girls, 5th-8th), this year we're excited to also offer a rec-league option for boys and girls grades 3-5. There will be an informational parent meeting on Monday, Oct 3rd at 7:00pm in the LOHS cafeteria to learn more about the two program offerings this year.

Visit lakeoswegoyouthbasketball.com for additional information and to register your athlete TODAY!

Oak Creek Families:

You are invited to come watch 30 LOJ teachers and staff play against the world-famous Harlem Wizards on Wednesday, October 5th.

Game starts at 7pm at LOHS West Gym. Who do you think will win?

Purchase your tickets (starting at just $15) online here:

https://harlemwizards.thundertix.com/orders/new?performance_id=2849339.

Questions? Email sailorparentclub@gmail.com.

Please put together a student emergency supply kit to bring to your student’s teacher. You can find the Emergency Supply Kit List here.

Kits will be kept in your student’s classroom for the duration of the school year and sent home with them at the end of the year.

LOSD now delivers students’ state assessment results online through ParentVUE rather than mailing paper. This is in keeping with the district’s strategic goal of sustainability and mirrors how we deliver report cards. Your child’s 2021-22 assessment reports are now available on your ParentVUE Documents page. As you review your student’s English Language Arts, math, and science scores, please keep in mind:

• An achievement level of 3 or 4 is considered to be on track for the student’s grade level.

• Scores on state assessments are only one measure of a student’s academic progress. We use these scores in conjunction with classroom work and other daily, weekly, monthly, and term assessments to understand your student’s strengths and areas for improvement.

If you have forgotten your ParentVUE password, go to the login page, click "I am a Parent," then click "Forgot Password." If you are unsure whether you have a ParentVUE account or need assistance, please contact your student’s school.

Masks are no longer mandatory for kids or staff and we do not provide them at the school. If you wish for your child to wear one, please make sure to send one with them in the morning! Adding extras to their backpack would be helpful, too!

The Oak Creek Innovation Lab would love your donations!

Before tossing into your recycling bin, the iLab is looking for donations for the following items:

• Egg Cartons
• Empty toilet paper rolls
• Empty paper towel rolls
• Clean and dry yogurt containers
• Plastic cups or containers
• Shoe boxes
• Flattened cardboard- no larger than 12"x12"
• Used golf balls, tennis balls, and ping pong balls
  
  

Please make sure items are clean and dry before sending them to school.

If you are able to send any items in, please have your student place the item(s) in the bin in the hallways outside the iLab.

Thank you!

Mrs. Speer

For the safety of children, volunteers are required to have an approved background check when volunteering in schools.

To help streamline compliance with state and school board policies, which require that all volunteers have background checks and knowledge of other board policies -- as well as state-mandated proof of vaccination (or a qualified exemption) -- we are introducing a new all-in-one volunteer application and approval process through ou Raptor Visitor Management System.

Submitting an online application initiates the background check process. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email upon approval of your background check and you will be given access through the onsite Raptor System at all schools. Please allow up to three weeks to process your approval.

Volunteers need to submit only one application for volunteering in all LOSD schools. Applications need to be submitted annually to capture changes in background checks, policies, and/or vaccination requirements.

Volunteer Application for LOSD

Thank you for applying promptly, and for your service to our students and schools. We are grateful for our volunteers.

We have a lot to celebrate and acknowledge this month. In particular, the district and all schools will be bringing attention to National Suicide Prevention and Hispanic Heritage Month. All teachers and staff are encouraged to find ways to recognize these and other awareness opportunities to help create a culture of belonging in our schools.

• National Suicide Prevention Month is September, and National Suicide Prevention Week, September 10-16, is a campaign in the United States to inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide. World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, provides worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.
• Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
  
• Deaf Awareness Month is intended to increase public awareness about the issues affecting deaf people and deaf culture as a whole.
  
• Labor Day, September 5, is a federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the work and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.
  
• International Literacy Day, celebrated each year on September 8, was declared by UNESCO on 26 October 1966.
  
• International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on September 21.
  
• International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated annually across the world on September 23 every year along with International Week of the Deaf. This is the same date that the World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951.
  
• Rosh Hashanah, September 25-26, literally meaning "head [of] the year", is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally "day of shouting or blasting." Recommended accommodation: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines, events, or activities. If planning an event, provide food accommodations (Kosher restrictions apply)
  

If we've missed a recognition opportunity, please email kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us.

Hey Oak Creek!

The Willamette Valley Pie Company fundraiser is back! Order / sell delicious take and bake pies and support the PTO. Pie orders are due October 12th, pie pick up is November 1st.

The Oak Creek Elementary School Fall Carnival is on Friday, October 21st!

Join an unforgettable night of Spooktacular fun for all ages.

Together we will play carnival games, listen to Halloween music, create crafts, watch movies, and take on an inflatable scavenger hunt.

Food, beverages, and shaved ice will be available for purchase.

There will even be a costume contest!

All are welcome to visit the carnival, wristbands are required for activities and games.

Wristbands may be purchased at a discounted early bird rate of $20.

Day of wristbands are $25. Each parent who signs up to volunteer at the carnival will receive a free wristband for their child. We are so excited to monster mash the night away with you and your little pumpkins!

We are collecting allergy-free candy to use as prizes at the carnival. If you are able to donate, please drop an unopened bag to the Oak Creek foyer.

Use the QR code, this link, or text “Coyotes” to 366283 to purchase a carnival wristband, order pies, or make a donation to the OCE PTO.

Join us for a PTO general meeting October 12th at 7p in the school library.

Thank you for joining us at our restaurant fundraisers. In August, we raised $125 at Mod Pizza!

Questions? OakCreekElementaryPTO@gmail.com

Oak Creek Elementary PTO Executive Committee

Kirstin Martin / President

Amanda Schade / Treasurer VP

Samantha McCaskey / Assistant Treasurer VP

Page Donnelly/ Membership VP

Brooke Mattern / Communications VP

Holli Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Barry Hansford / Co-Events and Enrichment VP

Steve Farnham / Co-Fundraising VP

Heather Shoyer / Co-Fundraising VP

Lauren Terpstra / Parental Involvement VP

Rachel Wilde / Secretary VP

Teressa Raine / Sustainability VP

I Love Lake Oswego Clothing Closet has received an overwhelming amount of support and donation during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community and encourage our community to lean on us not for just hard times, but for up cycling, sustainability, and for our environment. In the past the closet was just for students, and since the pandemic we have opened our doors to anyone within our community.

Visit https://www.ilovelakeoswego.com for more information.

Parents-guardians who have concerns about a student’s well-being are encouraged to reach out to their principal, and to maintain strong lines of communication and partnership between students, families, staff, and other resources.

SafeOregon is also an effective way to report a tip regarding safety threats or potential acts of violence to our students or schools.

https://www.safeoregon.com/

(Students should also be aware that intentionally providing a false report is a serious offense.)

Stay connected to the district and your school(s) and receive urgent notifications by subscribing to the Lake Oswego Schools App.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or need anything!

• Principal; Barb Keeton: keetonb@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Terese Kristoffersson: kristoft@loswego.k12.or.us
• Administrative Assistant; Tanya Goodwin: goodwint@loswego.k12.or.us

Address: 55 Kingsgate Rd., Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakCreekPTA/

Interested in OCE Spirit Wear? Check out this website sponsored by our PTO! OCE Spirit Wear